Tom Williams

In Monstrous Regiment, Borogravia is at war. Again. Polly Perks (Sarah Price) cuts her hair and joins the army (as a boy) in order to find out about her missing brother. Soon, she discovers that there are other girls disguising as boys in her unit. This band of misfits must survive corporeal Strappi (John Ferrick) and the strong sergeant Jackrum (Christopher M. Walsh) and the goofy Lt. Blouse (Robert Kauzlaric), This insane leadership is made plausible by the sheer cunning of the band of girls.

Since the premise of Tyrant is preposterous and the dull repetitive message scenes and rules-talk sessions are boring, Tyrant collapses under the weight of its own making. The play’s ending is both shocking and unsatisfying even if you accept the show’s premise. The show is too long and repetitive as it tries to cover too many themes. Freedom for all is surely lacking in an over regulated society. We get that so why concoct such a depressing future? I don’t believe the homeless problem will lead us to regulate away our freedom. That is why we have courts.

But, I must say that the production worked nicely given is was a musical filled with teenage hyperactivity. Fans of the movie and fans of Broadway pop will find much to like here.

After all, it is titled One Hit Wonders because it contains a fine assortment of past hits that includes blues ballads, catchy R & B with strong anthems. The tunes are the stars here with some terrific voices. Songs like “I Will Survive,” the haunting “Get Here,” “it’s Raining Men,” ‘To be Real,” “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” ‘What would You do For Love?” and “Hey There Lonely Girl” were featured by a terrific cast.

David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly, is gem of a play. It is a layered love story that covers themes like East verses West culture, men verses women and fantasy love verses reality. Loosely following Madama Butterfly and an actual French case of a diplomat being convicted of falling in love with a Chinese opera star who was a spy, M. Butterfly is a stunning piece of dramatic theatre that has elements of spectacle and sprinklings comedy.